21st April 2026 - 3 min read
Booking a ride independently has not always been straightforward for visually impaired Malaysians. Maxim E-Hailing Malaysia and the Society of the Blind in Malaysia took a step toward changing that on 17 April 2026 at the Inclusive Mobility Seminar 2026, held at Wisma SBM in Kuala Lumpur.
Around 40 visually impaired participants attended the session, where they were introduced to how the Maxim app works with screen reader and voice talkback functions. The goal was to show how the app can be navigated and used to book rides without any visual input.
A guided live booking demonstration formed the centrepiece of the session. Participants used voice-assisted commands to input destinations and simulate ride requests, getting a hands-on feel for how the system responds to spoken commands in real time. Selected participants also took part in a supervised ride simulation with a designated Maxim driver, allowing them to practise communicating pick-up details and travel requirements in a real-world setting.
Alongside the live demonstrations, participants were also briefed on the Mesra OKU rate, Maxim’s dedicated ride option for passengers with disabilities that is available to all OKU passengers through the app.
The Mesra OKU rate sits alongside the Economy and other ride types in the Passenger Cars section of the app. It comes with a few practical differences from a standard booking. Drivers wait an additional five minutes at the pick-up point at no extra charge, giving passengers who use wheelchairs, walking frames, or other mobility aids more time to board without feeling rushed. Passengers are also permitted to bring their pets along at no additional cost, with the option to inform the driver in advance through the in-app messaging function.
The seminar is part of an ongoing Memorandum of Understanding between Maxim E-Hailing Malaysia and the Society of the Blind in Malaysia. Syed Abdul Syarif, Head of Division Kuala Lumpur at Maxim E-Hailing Malaysia, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to making the platform independently usable for visually impaired riders. “Accessible technology should not be an added feature, it should be a standard,” he said.
Dr Ahmad Shamsuri, Vice President of the Society of the Blind in Malaysia, welcomed the collaboration. “It is encouraging to see continuous efforts being made to improve digital services for the visually impaired community,” he said.
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Iman writes about personal finance with curiosity. She is interested in the stories behind money, the hesitation around big decisions, and the small habits that shape financial futures. Off the clock, she is either dissecting a film or climbing her way up the leaderboard in her favourite games.
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